Corporate jets, charter planes under DGCA lens

Corporate jets, charter planes under DGCA lens

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has put in place a plan to streamline the licensing process for corporate jets and charter planes, and check their maintenance and modifications, following a rebuke from the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Following a recent safety audit, ICAO had raised serious concerns about oversight functions exercised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and had clubbed India with several African nations over poor aviation safety records.

"ICAO has identified a significant safety concern with respect to the ability of this state (India) to properly oversee aircraft under its jurisdiction,'' the ICAO's report said.

Corporate jets, charter planes under DGCA lens

The international organisation's concerns were mainly related to the fact the DGCA did not have a fool-proof process of issue and renewal of permits to non-scheduled operators.

Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra said that procedures were being laid down and by the end of month, India would comply with ICAO's observations.

However, others in the civil aviation establishment in India feel that ICAO has been partial and unfair towards India and its concerns are not serious enough to club India along with smaller African countries.